Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices having double patterning technology

ABSTRACT

Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices and semiconductor devices fabricated thereby are provided. Two photolithography processes and two spacer processes are performed to provide final patterns that have a pitch that is smaller than a limitation of photolithography process. Furthermore, since initial patterns are formed to have line and pad portions simultaneously by performing a first photolithography process, there is no necessity to perform an additional photolithography process for forming the pad portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0131829, filed on Nov. 20, 2012, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present inventive concept relates generally to semiconductor device and, more particularly, to methods of fabricating semiconductor devices using double patterning technology and semiconductor devices fabricated thereby.

BACKGROUND

Double patterning technology allows for manufacturers to achieve a small feature size that is beyond a resolution limitation of an exposure system. For example, using conventional double patterning technology, the formation of fine pitch patterns may include forming sacrificial patterns using, for example, a photolithography process, forming spacers on sidewalls of the sacrificial patterns, removing the sacrificial patterns, and etching an etch target layer using the spacers as an etch mask. However, as integration density of the semiconductor device increases, there is an increasing demand for more advanced patterning methods.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the inventive concept provide a fabrication method capable of realizing fine patterns, without bridge or mask misalignment.

Other some embodiments of the inventive concept provide highly integrated and highly reliable semiconductor devices.

According to some embodiments of the inventive concept, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device may include forming an etch-target layer and a first mask layer on a substrate, forming a second mask pattern on the first mask layer, the second mask pattern including a second line portion, a second pad portion, and a second connecting portion interposed between the second line portion and the second pad portion, forming a first spacer to cover a sidewall of the second mask pattern, removing the second line portion and the second connecting portion, etching the first mask layer to form a first mask pattern including a first line portion, a first connecting portion, and a first preliminary pad portion, which have shapes corresponding to those of portions of the first spacer covering the second line portion, the second connecting portion, and the second pad portion, respectively, in plan view, partially removing end portions of the first line portion and the first preliminary pad portion to form a pair of first pad portions spaced apart from each other, forming a second spacer to cover a sidewall of the first mask pattern, removing the first line portion and the first connecting portion, and etching the etch-target layer using the first pad portion and the second spacer as an etch mask.

In some embodiments, a width of the second line portion may be three times that of the first line portion.

In some embodiments, a width of the first spacer may be equivalent to that of the second spacer.

In some embodiments, the removing of the second line portion and the second connecting portion may be performed using an isotropic etching process.

In some embodiments, the partial removing of the first preliminary pad portion may be performed using an isotropic etching process.

In some embodiments, the method may further include forming a third mask layer on the first mask layer, before the forming of the second mask pattern, and etching the third mask layer using the second mask pattern and the first spacer as an etch mask to form a third mask pattern, after the removing of the second line portion and the second connecting portion. The etching of the first mask layer may be performed using the third mask pattern as an etch mask.

In some embodiments, the forming of the second mask pattern may include forming a second mask layer on the third mask layer, forming a fourth mask pattern on the second mask layer, the fourth mask pattern including a fourth line portion, a fourth pad portion, and a fourth connecting portion interposed between the fourth line portion and the fourth pad portion, and patterning the second mask layer using the fourth mask pattern as an etch mask to form the second mask pattern. After the patterning of the second mask layer, the fourth line portion may be formed to have a height that may be smaller than those of the fourth pad portion and the fourth connecting portion, after the forming of the first spacer, the fourth line portion may be removed to expose a top surface of the second line portion and the fourth connecting portion and the fourth pad portion remain on the second connecting portion and the second pad portion.

In some embodiments, the method may further include forming a first spacer layer to cover the second and fourth mask patterns, forming a photoresist pattern to cover the fourth connecting portion and the fourth pad portion and expose the fourth line portion, and removing the fourth line portion using the photoresist pattern as an etch mask to expose a top surface of the second line portion.

In some embodiments, the first mask layer and the second mask layer may be formed of the same material, the third mask layer and the fourth mask pattern may be formed of the same material, and the first spacer and the second spacer may be formed of the same material.

In some embodiments, a space between adjacent ones of the second line portions may be five times a width of the second spacer.

According to some embodiments of the inventive concepts, a semiconductor device may include at least one interconnection including a line portion and a pad portion connected to each other. The pad portion has a width greater than that of the line portion and has at least one concave sidewall.

In some embodiments, the device may further include at least one extension connected to the pad portion and spaced apart from the line portion. The extension has the same width as the line portion.

In some embodiments, the at least one interconnection may include a pair of interconnections provided adjacent to each other, and a space between the pad and line portions that may be selected from the pair of the interconnections, respectively, may be greater than a space between the line portions of the pair of the interconnections, respectively.

In some embodiments, the at least one interconnection may include first to fourth interconnections, which may be provided adjacent to each other and have first to fourth pad portions, respectively. Shapes of the first and fourth pad portions have substantially mirror symmetry with respect to a midpoint therebetween, and shapes of the second and third pad portions have substantially mirror symmetry with respect to a midpoint therebetween.

In some embodiments, the device may further include at least one dummy interconnection interposed between the second and third interconnections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments will be more clearly understood from the following brief description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings represent non-limiting, some embodiments as described herein.

FIGS. 1A through 18A are plan views illustrating processing steps in the fabrication of semiconductor devices according to some embodiments of the present inventive concept.

FIGS. 1B through 18B are cross-sections taken along the lines A-A′ and B-B′ of FIGS. 1A through 18A, respectively.

FIGS. 19A through 21A are plan views illustrating processing steps in the fabrication of semiconductor devices according to some embodiments of the present inventive concept.

FIGS. 19B through 21B are cross-sections taken along lines A-A′ and B-B′ of FIGS. 19A through 21A, respectively.

FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of memory systems including semiconductor devices according to some embodiments of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of memory cards including semiconductor devices according to some embodiments of the present inventive concept.

FIG. 24 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of information processing systems including semiconductor devices according to some embodiments of the present inventive concept.

It should be noted that these figures are intended to illustrate the general characteristics of methods, structures and/or materials utilized in certain some embodiments and to supplement the written description provided below. These drawings may not, however, to scale and may not precisely reflect the precise structural or performance characteristics of any given embodiment, and should not be interpreted as defining or limiting the range of values or properties encompassed by some embodiments. For example, the relative thicknesses and positioning of molecules, layers, regions and/or structural elements may be reduced or exaggerated for clarity. The use of similar or identical reference numbers in the various drawings is intended to indicate the presence of a similar or identical element or feature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Some embodiments of the inventive concepts will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some embodiments are shown. Some embodiments of the inventive concepts may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of some embodiments to those of ordinary skill in the art. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements, and thus their description will be omitted.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Like numbers indicate like elements throughout. As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements or layers should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” “on” versus “directly on”).

It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”, etc, may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of some embodiments.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of some embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including,” if used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

Some embodiments of the inventive concepts are described herein with reference to cross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of some embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, some embodiments of the inventive concepts should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, an implanted region illustrated as a rectangle may have rounded or curved features and/or a gradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binary change from implanted to non-implanted region. Likewise, a buried region formed by implantation may result in some implantation in the region between the buried region and the surface through which the implantation takes place. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope of some embodiments.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which some embodiments of the inventive concepts belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly-used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1A through 18A are plan views illustrating processing steps in the fabrication of semiconductor devices according to some embodiments of the present inventive concept. FIGS. 1B through 18B are cross-sections taken along lines A-A′ and B-B′ of FIGS. 1A through 18A, respectively.

Referring first to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a gate insulating layer 3, a conductive layer 5, a first mask layer 7, a second mask layer 9, a third mask layer 17, and a fourth mask layer 19 may be sequentially formed on a substrate 1. The substrate 1 may be, for example, a single crystalline silicon wafer or a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the conductive layer 5 may serve as an etch-target layer. The conductive layer 5 may include a doped polysilicon layer, a metal silicide layer, and/or a metal layer. The gate insulating layer 3 may be a single- or multi-layered structure including at least one of a silicon oxide layer, a silicon nitride layer, or a metal oxide layer. The gate insulating layer 3 may include a tunnel insulating layer, a charge storing layer, and a blocking insulating layer, which may be sequentially stacked on the substrate 1. Alternatively, the charge storing layer may be replaced with a floating conductive pattern. The first and third mask layers 7 and 17 may include the same material, for example, spin-on-hardmask (SOH) or spin-on-carbon (SOC) layer. Similarly, the second and fourth mask layers 9 and 19 may include the same material, for example, a silicon oxynitride layer (SiON).

First photoresist (PR) patterns may be formed on the fourth mask layer 19 by performing a first photolithography process. The first PR patterns may include a first selection line photoresist (SLPR) pattern 21 sl and a first word line photoresist (WLPR) pattern 21 wl, 21 c, and 21 p. The first WLPR pattern 21 wl, 21 c, and 21 p may include a first PR line portion 21 wl, a first PR pad portion 21 p, and a first PR connecting portion 21 c connecting them. The first PR pad portion 21 p and the first PR connecting portion 21 c may be provided at a side of an end portion of the first PR line portion 21 wl. The first WLPR pattern may include a pair of symmetric pad portions 21 p and a pair of symmetric connecting portions 21 c. A width of the first SLPR pattern 21 sl may be greater than that of the first PR line portion 21 wl. The first SLPR pattern 21 sl may be formed to realize a ground selection line or a string selection line of NAND FLASH memory devices, while the first WLPR pattern may be formed to realize word lines of the NAND FLASH memory devices. In some embodiments, the width of the line portion 21 wl may be about three times a final width 1F of the word line. A space between the line portions 21 wl disposed adjacent to each other may be about five times the final width 1F of the word line.

In embodiments where the gate insulating layer 3 includes the tunnel insulating layer, the charge storing layer, and the blocking insulating layer, there may be no charge storing layer below the first SLPR pattern 21 sl. For example, below the first SLPR pattern 21 sl, the tunnel insulating layer may be in direct contact with the blocking insulating layer or one of the tunnel insulating layer and the blocking insulating layer may exist.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the fourth mask layer 19 may be etched using the first PR patterns 21 sl, 21 wl, 21 p, and 21 c as an etch mask to form fourth mask patterns 19 sl, 19 wl, 19 p, and 19 c. The fourth mask patterns 19 sl, 19 wl, 19 p, and 19 c may be formed to have shapes transferred from the first PR patterns 21 sl, 21 wl, 21 p, and 21 c, respectively. The fourth mask patterns 19 sl, 19 wl, 19 p, and 19 c may include a fourth selection line (SL) mask pattern 19 sl and a fourth word line (WL) mask pattern 19 wl, 19 c, and 19 p. The fourth WL mask pattern 19 wl, 19 c, and 19 p may include a fourth mask line portion 19 wl, a fourth mask pad portion 19 p, and a fourth mask connecting portion 19 c connecting them.

The third mask layer 17 may be etched using the fourth mask patterns 19 sl, 19 wl, 19 p, and 19 c as an etch mask to form third mask patterns 17 sl, 17 wl, 17 p, and 17 c. The third mask patterns 17 sl, 17 wl, 17 p, and 17 c may be formed to have shapes transferred from the fourth mask patterns 19 sl, 19 wl, 19 p, and 19 c, respectively. The third mask patterns 17 sl, 17 wl, 17 p, and 17 c may include a third SL mask pattern 17 sl and a third WL mask pattern 17 wl, 17 c, and 17 p. The third WL mask pattern 17 wl, 17 c, and 17 p may include a third mask line portion 17 wl, a third mask pad portion 17 p, and a third mask connecting portion 17 c connecting them.

During the formation of the third mask patterns 17 sl, 17 wl, 17 p, and 17 c, the first PR patterns 21 sl, 21 wl, 21 p, and 21 c may be wholly removed to expose the top surfaces of the fourth mask patterns 19 sl, 19 wl, 19 p, and 19 c. Alternatively, the first PR patterns 21 sl, 21 wl, 21 p, and 21 c may be removed before the etching of the third mask patterns 17 sl, 17 wl, 17 p, and 17 c. During the etching of the third mask patterns 17 sl, 17 wl, 17 p, and 17 c, the fourth mask patterns 19 sl, 19 wl, 19 p, and 19 c may be partially etched. An etch damage is most likely to occur at the fourth mask line portion 19 wl having a relatively small pattern width than at the fourth SL mask pattern 19 sl, the fourth mask pad portion 19 p, and the fourth mask connecting portion 19 c having a relatively large pattern width. Accordingly, a thickness T2 of the fourth mask line portion 19 wl may be smaller than a thickness T1 of the fourth SL mask pattern 19 sl, the fourth mask pad portion 19 p, and the fourth mask connecting portion 19 c.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a first spacer layer 23 may be conformally formed on the substrate 1. In some embodiments, the first spacer layer 23 may be formed of a material having an etch selectivity with respect to all of the second to fourth mask layers 9, 17, and 19. For example, the first spacer layer 23 may be formed of a silicon oxide layer that was formed using an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The first spacer layer 23 may have a thickness that is substantially equivalent to the final width 1F of the word line.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the first spacer layer 23 may be etched to form first spacers 23 sl, 23 wl, 23 p, and 23 c covering sidewalls of the third mask patterns 17 sl, 17 wl, 17 p, and 17 c and expose a top surface of the second mask layer 9. The first spacers 23 sl, 23 wl, 23 p, and 23 c may include the first SL spacer 23 sl, the first line spacer 23 wl, the first pad spacer 23 p, and the first connection spacer 23 c, which may be formed to cover sidewalls of the third SL mask pattern 17 sl, the third mask line portion 17 wl, the third mask pad portion 17 p, and the third mask connecting portion 17 c, respectively. Thereafter, the fourth mask line portion 19 wl may be removed to expose a top surface of the third mask line portion 17 wl. In some embodiments, the fourth SL mask pattern 19 sl, the fourth mask pad portion 19 p, and the fourth mask connecting portion 19 c may have the thickness T1 greater than the thickness T2 of the fourth mask line portion 19 wl, and in these embodiments, the fourth SL mask pattern 19 sl, the fourth mask pad portion 19 p, and the fourth mask connecting portion 19 c may not be wholly removed to remain, during the etching process for removing the fourth mask line portion 19 wl.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, an isotropic etching process may be performed to remove selectively the exposed third mask line portion 17 wl and expose inner sidewalls of the first line spacers 23 wl and a top surface of the second mask layer 9 between the first line spacers 23 wl. In embodiments where the third mask layer 17 is formed of an SOH layer, the isotropic etching process may be an ashing process using oxygen. During the isotropic etching process, etchant may seep below the fourth mask connecting portion 19 c and remove a large portion of the third mask connecting portion 17 c. In some embodiments, the remaining portion of the third mask connecting portion 17 c may have a first sidewall S1 with a concave profile. As the result of the partial removal of the third mask connecting portion 17 c, a first empty space V1 may be formed to expose a bottom surface of the fourth mask connecting portion 19 c.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the second mask layer 9 may be etched using the first spacers 23 sl, 23 wl, 23 p, and 23 c, the third SL mask pattern 17 sl, and the third mask pad portion 17 p as an etch mask to form second mask patterns 9 sl, 9 wl, 9 p, and 9 c. If the second mask layer 9 is formed of the same material as the fourth mask layer 19, the fourth mask patterns 19 sl, 19 wl, 19 p, and 19 c may be removed during the etching process to form the second mask patterns 9 sl, 9 wl, 9 p, and 9 c. If the second mask layer 9 is formed of a different material from the fourth mask layer 19, the fourth mask patterns 19 sl, 19 wl, 19 p, and 19 c may be removed by an additional process. In some embodiments, the first mask layer 7 and top surfaces of the third mask patterns 17 sl, 17 p, and 17 c may be exposed as the result of the formation of the second mask patterns 9 sl, 9 wl, 9 p, and 9 c.

When viewed from above, the second mask patterns 9 sl, 9 wl, 9 p, and 9 c may have shapes corresponding to those of the first spacers 23 sl, 23 wl, 23 p, and 23 c, the third SL mask pattern 17 sl, and the third mask pad portion 17 p. The second mask patterns 9 sl, 9 wl, 9 p, and 9 c may include a second SL mask pattern 9 sl and a second WL mask pattern 9 wl, 9 c, and 9 p. The second WL mask pattern 9 wl, 9 c, and 9 p may include a second mask line portion 9 wl, a second mask pad portion 9 p, and a second mask connecting portion 9 c connecting them. A width of the second SL mask pattern 9 sl may be greater by about 2F than that of the third SL mask pattern 17 sl. One third mask line portion 17 wl may be used to form the second mask line portion 9 wl shaped like a closed curve.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the first mask layer 7 may be etched using the second mask patterns 9 sl, 9 wl, 9 p, and 9 c as an etch mask to form first mask patterns 7 sl, 7 wl, 7 p, and 7 c and expose the conductive layer 5. If the third mask layer 17 and the first mask layer 7 may be formed of the same material, the third mask patterns 17 sl, 17 wl, 17 p, and 17 c may be removed during the etching process for forming the first mask patterns 7 sl, 7 wl, 7 p, and 7 c. If the third mask layer 17 and the first mask layer 7 are formed of different materials from each other, the third mask patterns 17 sl, 17 wl, 17 p, and 17 c may be removed by an additional process. In some embodiments, top surfaces of the second mask patterns 9 sl, 9 p, and 9 c may be exposed as the result of the formation of the first mask patterns 7 sl, 7 wl, 7 p, and 7 c. Here, the first spacers 23 sl, 23 wl, 23 p, and 23 c may remain.

When viewed from above, the first mask patterns 7 sl, 7 wl, 7 p, and 7 c may have shapes corresponding to those of the second mask patterns 9 sl, 9 wl, 9 p, and 9 c. The first mask patterns 7 sl, 7 wl, 7 p, and 7 c may include a first SL mask pattern 7 sl and a first WL mask pattern 7 wl, 7 c, and 7 p. The first WL mask pattern 7 wl, 7 c, and 7 p may include a first mask line portion 7 wl, a first mask preliminary pad portion 7 p, and a first mask connecting portion 7 c connecting them.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the first spacers 23 sl, 23 wl, 23 p, and 23 c may be removed. In some embodiments, upper portions of the second mask patterns 9 sl, 9 wl, 9 p, and 9 c may be partially etched during removing the first spacers 23 sl, 23 wl, 23 p, and 23 c. An etch damage is most likely to occur at the second mask line portions 9 wl having a relatively small pattern width, the fourth mask pad portion 19 p, and the fourth mask connecting portion 19 c having a relatively large pattern width, and thus, a thickness of the second mask line portions 9 wl may be smaller than thicknesses of the second SL mask pattern 9 sl, the second mask pad portion and connecting portion 9 p and 9 c.

Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, a second spacer layer 25 may be conformally formed on the substrate 1. In some embodiments, the second spacer layer 25 may be formed of a material having an etch selectivity with respect to all of the conductive layer 9, the first and second mask layers 7 and 9. For example, the second spacer layer 25 may be a silicon oxide layer formed by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The second spacer layer 25 may have a thickness that is substantially equivalent to the final width 1F of the word line.

Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, a second PR pattern 27 may be formed on the second spacer layer 25 to have first to third openings O1, O2, and O3, by performing a second photolithography process. The first opening O1 may be formed to cross a portion near a center of the second mask pad portion 9 p, but it may be formed spaced apart from the second mask connecting portion 9 c, in plan view. The second opening O2 may be formed to be overlapped with a pair of the second mask connecting portions 9 c, which are connected to two adjacent ones of the second mask pad portions 9 p. The third opening O3 may be formed to be overlapped with end portions of the second mask line portions 9 wl.

Referring to FIGS. 11A and 11B, the second spacer layer 25, the second WL mask pattern 9 wl, 9 p, and 9 c, and the first WL mask pattern 7 wl, 7 p, and 7 c may be sequentially patterned using the second PR pattern 27 as an etch mask to expose a top surface of the conductive layer 5 through the first to third openings O1, O2, and O3. As the result of the patterning, the end portions of the first mask line portion 7 wl exposed by the third opening O3 may be cut. This means that the first mask line portion 7 wl may not preserve the closed curve shape and form a plurality of first mask line portions 7 wl separated from each other. The second mask line portion 9 wl and the first mask line portion 7 wl thereunder may be cut to form a second dummy mask line portion 9 d and a first dummy mask line portion 7 d.

Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, the second PR pattern 27 may be selectively removed to expose the second spacer layer 25. An isotropic etching process may be performed to remove portions of the first WL mask pattern 7 wl, 7 p, and 7 c exposed by the first to third openings O1, O2, and O3. Accordingly, below the second mask pad portion 9 p, the first mask preliminary pad portion 7 p may be divided into two first mask pad portions 7 p 1 and 7 p 2. As the result of the isotropic etching process, the first mask pad portions 7 p 1 and 7 p 2 may have second and third sidewalls S2 and S3 having a concave profile. Furthermore, the first mask connecting portion 7 c may be partially removed to expose an inner sidewall of the first spacer layer 25. Bottom surfaces of the second mask pad portion 9 p and the second mask connecting portion 9 c may be partially exposed.

Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, an anisotropic etching process may be performed to the second spacer layer 25 to form second spacers 25 sl, 25 wl, 25 p, 25 c, and 25 d and expose the conductive layer 5. The second spacers 25 sl, 25 wl, 25 p, 25 c, and 25 d may include a second SL spacer 25 sl, a second line spacer 25 wl, a second pad spacer 25 p, a second connection spacer 25 c, and a second dummy spacer 25 d that cover sidewalls of the first SL mask pattern 7 sl, the first mask line portion 7 wl, the first mask pad portion 7 p 1 and 7 p 2, the first mask connecting portion 7 c, and the first dummy mask line portion 7 d.

Referring to FIGS. 14A and 14B, the second mask line portion 9 wl, the second dummy mask line portion 9 d, and the second mask connecting portion 9 c may be removed to expose the top surfaces of the first mask line portion 7 wl, the first dummy mask line portion 7 d, and the first mask connecting portion 7 c. In some embodiments, since the second SL mask pattern 9 sl, the second mask pad portion, and the connecting portion 9 p and 9 c have thicknesses that are greater than those of the second mask line portions 9 wl and 9 d, the second SL mask pattern 9 sl, the second mask pad portion, and the connecting portion 9 p and 9 c may remain.

Referring to FIGS. 15A and 15B, the first mask line portion 7 wl, the first dummy mask line portion 7 d, and the first mask connecting portion 7 c may be removed to expose the conductive layer 5 thereunder. In these embodiments, top surfaces of the first SL mask pattern 7 sl and the first mask pad portions 7 p 1 and 7 p 2 may not be removed because they are covered with the second mask pattern 9 sl and 9 p.

Referring to FIGS. 16A and 16B, the second mask pattern 9 sl and 9 p may be selectively removed to expose the first mask pattern 7 sl, 7 p 1, and 7 p 2 thereunder.

Referring to FIGS. 17A and 17B, the conductive layer 5 may be etched using the second spacers 25 sl, 25 wl, 25 p, 25 c, and 25 d and the first mask pattern 7 sl, 7 p 1, and 7 p 2 as an etch mask to form conductive patterns 5 sl, 5 wl, 5 p, 5 c, and 5 d. When viewed from above, the conductive patterns 5 sl, 5 wl, 5 p, 5 c, and 5 d may have shapes corresponding to those of the second spacers 25 sl, 25 wl, 25 p, 25 c, and 25 d and the first mask pattern 7 sl, 7 p 1, and 7 p 2. Each of the conductive patterns 5 sl, 5 wl, 5 p 1, 5 p 2, 5 c, and 5 d may include a selection line 5 sl, a word line 5 wl, 5 p, and 5 c, and a dummy line 5 d. The word line 5 wl, 5 p 1, 5 p 2, and 5 c may include a line portion 5 wl, a pad portion 5 p 1 and 5 p 2, and a connecting portion 5 c. As a result, four WL line portions 5 wl may be formed from one first PR line portion pattern 21 wl of FIG. 1A.

In other words, after forming initial patterns 21 sl, 21 wl, 21 p and 21 c by a first photolithography process, final patterns 5 sl, 5 wl, 5 p 1, 5 p 2, 5 c, and 5 d can be formed to have a pitch that is smaller than a limitation of photolithography process by performing a second photolithography process and two spacer processes. Furthermore, since the initial patterns 21 sl, 21 wl, 21 p and 21 c may be formed to have the line portions 21 sl and 21 wl and the pad portion 21 p simultaneously by performing the first photolithography process, there is no necessity to perform an additional third photolithography process for forming the pad portion. Further, unnecessary parts may be removed by using an isotropic etching process. Accordingly, it may be possible to overcome or minimize technical problems, such as mask misalignment or bridge.

Referring to FIGS. 18A and 18B, the gate insulating layer 3 may be etched using the second spacers 25 sl, 25 wl, 25 p, 25 c, and 25 d and the first mask pattern 7 sl, 7 p 1, and 7 p 2 as an etch mask to expose the substrate 1. Thereafter, as illustrated in FIG. 18A, contacts 30 may be formed on an end portion of the selection line 5 sl and on the pad portions 5 p 1 and 5 p 2, respectively.

Referring again to FIGS. 18A and 18B, the semiconductor device may include the selection line 5 sl, the word line 5 wl, 5 c, 5 p 1, and 5 p 2, and the dummy word line 5 d that are provided on the substrate 1. In the NAND FLASH memory device, the selection line 5 sl may serve as the ground selection line or the string selection line. In some embodiments, the selection line 5 sl may serve as gate electrodes or interconnection lines of the peripheral circuit region. The word line 5 wl, 5 c, 5 p 1, and 5 p 2. may serve as the word line of the NAND FLASH memory device. In further embodiments, the word line 5 wl, 5 c, 5 p 1, and 5 p 2 may serve as bit lines of a vertical NAND device or MRAM, PRAM, or RRAM devices. The word line 5 wl, 5 c, 5 p 1, and 5 p 2 may include the line portion 5 wl, the pad portion 5 p 1 and 5 p 2, and the connecting portion 5 c. In some embodiments, a width of each line portion 5 wl may be 1F, and a space between the line portions 5 wl may be 1F. The pad portion 5 p 1 and 5 p 2 may include the first pad portion 5 p 1 and the second pad portion 5 p 2 that are separated from each other. The pad portion 5 p 1 and 5 p 2 may have a width that is greater than that of the line portions 5 wl and have at least one concave sidewall S1, S2, and/or S3. The pad portion 5 p 1 and 5 p 2 may include at least one extension 5 e protruding from an end portion thereof. The extension 5 e may have a width that is equivalent to the width, i.e., 1F, of the line portion 5 wl. The connecting portion 5 c may be connected to or extend laterally from a side surface of the line portion 5 wl. Accordingly, the connecting portion 5 c may not be parallel to the line portion 5 wl. A space D1 between the pad portion 5 p 1 or 5 p 2 of two adjacent word lines 5 wl may be greater than a space, i.e., 1F, between two adjacent word lines 5 wl. Two adjacent pairs, each of which is comprised of two adjacent pad portions 5 p 1 and 5 p 2, may be formed to have mirror symmetry with respect to the midpoint therebetween. For example, two adjacent second pad portions 5 p 2 may have mirror symmetry with respect to the midpoint, and two adjacent first pad portions 5 p 1 may have mirror symmetry with respect to the midpoint. The dummy word line 5 d may be provided adjacent to a pair of the second pad portions 5 p 2 adjacent to each other.

FIGS. 19A through 21A are plan views illustrating processing steps in the fabrication of semiconductor devices according to some embodiments of the inventive concept. FIGS. 19B through 21B are cross-sections taken along lines A-A′ and B-B′ of FIGS. 19A through 21A, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 19A and 19B, a third PR pattern 32 may be formed on the structure of FIGS. 3A and 3B. For example, the third PR pattern 32 may be formed on the first spacer layer 23 to have a fourth opening O4. The fourth opening O4 may be formed to be overlapped with the fourth mask line portions 19 wl.

Referring to FIGS. 20A and 20B, an anisotropic etching process, in which the third PR pattern 32 is used as etch mask, may be performed to remove the first spacer layer 23 and the fourth mask line portions 19 wl from the top surface of the third mask line portions 17 wl. Accordingly, the first line spacer 23 wl may be formed to cover the sidewalls of the third mask line portions 17 wl and expose the top surface of the third mask line portions 17 wl.

Referring to FIGS. 21A and 21B, an isotropic etching process may be performed to remove selectively the third mask line portions 17 wl. As illustrated, a large portion of the third mask connecting portion 17 c may be removed during this removing process.

The third PR pattern 32 may be removed, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B. Thereafter, the second mask layer 9 may be patterned using the first line spacer 23 wl and the third mask patterns 17 sl, 17 p, and 17 c as etch mask to form the second mask patterns 9 sl, 9 wl, 9 p, and 9 c. In some embodiments, during the patterning of the third PR pattern 32, the first spacer layer 23 may be partially removed to form the first spacers 23 sl, 23 p, and 23 c, and the fourth mask patterns 19 sl, 19 p, and 19 c may be removed. The subsequent processes may be performed in the same manner as that of the previous embodiments.

FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of memory systems including a semiconductor device according to some embodiments of the inventive concept. As illustrated in FIG. 22, a memory system 1100 can be applied to, for example, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computer, a web tablet, a wireless phone, a mobile phone, a digital music player, a memory card and/or all the devices that can transmit and/or receive data in a wireless communication environment.

The memory system 1100 may include a controller 1110, an input/output device 1120, for example, a keypad and a display device, a memory 1130, an interface 1140, and a bus 1150. The memory 1130 and the interface 1140 communicate with each other through the bus 1150.

The controller 1110 may include at least one microprocessor, at least one digital signal processor, at least one micro controller or other process devices similar to the microprocessor, the digital signal processor, and the micro controller. The memory 1130 may be used to store an instruction executed by the controller 1110. The input/output device 1120 may receive data or a signal from the outside of the system 1100 or transmit data or a signal to the outside of the system 1100. For example, the input/output device 1120 may include a keyboard, a keypad and/or a displayer.

The memory 1130 includes at least one of the nonvolatile memory devices according to some embodiments of the inventive concepts. The memory 1130 may further include a different kind of memory, a volatile memory device capable of random access and various kinds of memories.

The interface 1140 transmits data to a communication network or receives data from a communication network.

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of memory cards including a semiconductor device according to some embodiments of the inventive concept. As illustrated in FIG. 23, the memory card 1200 for supporting a storage capability of a large capacity is fitted with a semiconductor memory device 1210, which may be the nonvolatile memory devices according to some embodiments of the inventive concepts. The memory card 1200 includes a memory controller 1220 controlling every data exchange between a host and the semiconductor memory device 1210.

A static random access memory (SRAM) 1221 is used as an operation memory of a processing unit 1222. A host interface 1223 includes data exchange protocols of a host to be connected to the memory card 1200. An error correction block 1224 detects and corrects errors included in data readout from a multi bit semiconductor memory device 1210. A memory interface 1225 interfaces with the semiconductor memory device 1210. The processing unit 1222 performs every control operation for exchanging data of the memory controller 1220. The memory card 1200 according to some embodiments of the inventive concepts may further include a ROM storing code data for interfacing with the host.

The semiconductor memory device 1210 according to some embodiments of the inventive concept may be used to realize a highly reliable memory card or other memory systems. In particular, the semiconductor memory device according to some embodiments of the inventive concept may constitute a memory system of the latest actively developed solid state drives (SSD).

FIG. 24 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of information processing systems including a semiconductor device according to some embodiments of the inventive concept. As illustrated in FIG. 24, an information processing system 1300 may be realized using a memory system 1310 including at least one of the nonvolatile memory devices according to some embodiments of the inventive concepts. For example, the information processing system 1300 may be a mobile device and/or a desktop computer. In some embodiments, the information processing system 1300 may further include a modem 1320, a central processing unit (CPU) 1330, a random access memory (RAM) 1340, and a user interface 1350, which are electrically connected to a system bus 1360, in addition to the memory system 1310. The memory system 1310 may include a memory device 1311 and a memory controller 1312. In some embodiments, the memory system 1310 may be configured substantially identical to the memory system 1100 or the memory card 1200. Data processed by the CPU 1330 and/or input from the outside may be stored in the memory system 1310. In some embodiments, the memory system 1310 may be used as a portion of a solid state drive (SSD), and in these embodiments, the information processing system 1300 may stably and reliably store a large amount of data in the memory system 1310. An application chipset, a camera image sensor, a camera image signal processor (ISP), an input/output device, or the like may further be included in the information processing system 1300 according to some embodiments of the present inventive concept.

Furthermore, a nonvolatile memory device according to the inventive concept or a memory system including the same may be packaged in various kinds of ways. For example, the nonvolatile memory device or the memory system may be employed in a Package on Package (PoP), Ball Grid Array (BGA), Chip Scale Package (CSP), Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC), Plastic Dual In-line Package (PDIP), Die in Waffle Pack, Die in Wafer Form, Chip On Board (COB), Ceramic Dual In-line Package (CERDIP), Plastic Metric Quad Flat Pack (MQFP), Thin Quad Flat Pack (TQFP), Small Outline Integrated Circuit (SOIC), Shrink Small Outline Package (SSOP), Thin Small Outline Package (TSOP), System In Package (SIP), Multi Chip Package (MCP), Wafer-level Fabricated Package (WFP), or Wafer-level Processed Stack Package (WSP). The package in which the semiconductor device according to one of the above embodiments is mounted may further include at least one semiconductor device (e.g., a controller and/or a logic device) that controls the nonvolatile memory device.

According to some embodiments of the inventive concept, after forming initial patterns by a first photolithography process, final patterns can be formed to have a pitch that is smaller than a limitation of photolithography process by performing a second photolithography process and two spacer processes. Furthermore, since the initial patterns may be formed to have the line portion and the pad portion simultaneously by performing the first photolithography process, there is no necessity to perform an additional third photolithography process for forming the pad portion. Further, unnecessary parts may be removed by using an isotropic etching process. Accordingly, it may be possible to overcome or to minimize technical problems, such as mask misalignment or bridge.

While some embodiments of the inventive concepts have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that variations in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the attached claims. 

1. A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, comprising: forming an etch-target layer and a first mask layer on a substrate; forming a second mask pattern on the first mask layer, wherein the second mask pattern includes a second line portion, a second pad portion, and a second connecting portion and wherein the second connecting portion is positioned between the second line portion and the second pad portion; forming a first spacer to cover a sidewall of the second mask pattern; removing the second line portion and the second connecting portion; etching the first mask layer to form a first mask pattern, wherein the first mask pattern includes a first line portion, a first connecting portion, and a first preliminary pad portion and wherein the first line portion, the first connecting portion and the first preliminary pad portion have shapes substantially corresponding to shapes of portions of the first spacer covering the second line portion, the second connecting portion, and the second pad portion, respectively, in plan view; partially removing end portions of the first line portion and the first preliminary pad portion to form a pair of first pad portions spaced apart from each other; forming a second spacer to cover a sidewall of the first mask pattern; removing the first line portion and the first connecting portion; and etching the etch-target layer using the first pad portion and the second spacer as an etch mask.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a width of the second line portion is three times that of the first line portion.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein a width of the first spacer is substantially equivalent to that of the second spacer.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein removing of the second line portion and the second connecting portion is performed using an isotropic etching process.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein partially removing the first preliminary pad portion is performed using an isotropic etching process.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: wherein forming the second mask pattern is followed by forming a third mask layer on the first mask layer; wherein removing the second line portion and the second connecting portion is followed by etching the third mask layer using the second mask pattern and the first spacer as an etch mask to form a third mask pattern; and wherein etching of the first mask layer is performed using the third mask pattern as an etch mask.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein forming of the second mask pattern comprises: forming a second mask layer on the third mask layer; forming a fourth mask pattern on the second mask layer, wherein the fourth mask pattern includes a fourth line portion, a fourth pad portion, and a fourth connecting portion and wherein the fourth connecting portions is provided between the fourth line portion and the fourth pad portion; patterning the second mask layer using the fourth mask pattern as an etch mask to form the second mask pattern, wherein, after the patterning of the second mask layer, the fourth line portion is formed to have a height that is smaller than heights of the fourth pad portion and the fourth connecting portion; and removing the fourth line portion after forming the first spacer to expose a top surface of the second line portion, wherein the fourth connecting portion and the fourth pad portion remain on the second connecting portion and the second pad portion.
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprising: forming a first spacer layer to cover the second and fourth mask patterns; forming a photoresist pattern to cover the fourth connecting portion and the fourth pad portion and expose the fourth line portion; and removing the fourth line portion using the photoresist pattern as an etch mask to expose a top surface of the second line portion.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first mask layer and the second mask layer are formed of the same material; wherein the third mask layer and the fourth mask pattern are formed of the same material; and wherein the first spacer and the second spacer are formed of the same material.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein a space between adjacent ones of the second line portions is five times a width of the second spacer. 11-15. (canceled)
 16. A method of forming a semiconductor device comprising: performing a first photolithography process to form initial patterns; and performing a second photolithography process to provide final patterns having a pitch smaller than a limitation of the photolithography processes.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the initial patterns have a line portion and a pad portion.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising forming at least one interconnection including the line portion connected to the pad portion, wherein the pad portion has a width greater than a width of the line portion and at least one concave sidewall.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein forming the at least one interconnection comprises forming a pair of interconnections adjacent to each other, and a space between a first of the pair of interconnections and a pad portion of a second of the pair of interconnections adjacent to the first of the pair of interconnections is wider than a space between the first of the pair of interconnections and the second of the pair of interconnections. 